Rhinoviruses: Methods and Protocols highlights the numerous molecular, cellular and in vivo tools now available to conduct human rhinovirus (HRV) research in an effort to increase understanding of the clinical disease caused by HRVs as well as the functions of its individual proteins and its replication. Human rhinoviruses are the major cause of common colds as well as being more recently recognized as the major viral cause of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. The huge advancements in technical applications of biophysics and improvements in high-end imaging techniques have also had implications for HRV research among other infectious diseases. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, Rhinoviruses: Methods and Protocols seeks to serve both professionals and novices with the latest technical advances in HRV research to ultimately enable the development of therapeutic approaches to combat HRV, and most importantly, its pathogenic effects in asthma exacerbation.

Virus-Host Interactions: Methods and Protocols covers various aspects of virological research, such as biochemical approaches, including molecular interactions and regulatory mechanisms on the protein as well as the RNA level with a strong focus on the manifold possibilities to study protein-protein interactions, as well as cell biological and immunological methodologies. Viruses represent a reduced form of life that depends on host cells for propagation. To this end, viruses approach and penetrate cells and usurp cellular machineries for their own benefit. Recent technological improvements have enabled the systematic analysis of the virus-host interplay be it on the genomic, the transcriptomic, or proteomic level. In parallel, bioinformatic tools have emerged in support of the large datasets generated by these high-throughput approaches. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, Virus-Host Interactions: Methods and Protocols will prove invaluable to professionals and novices with its well-honed methodologies and protocols.

Helminths are long-lived multicellular organisms that have co-evolved with humans over many thousands of years. They are responsible for infections which affect around one third of the human population, at global level. Despite the huge efforts in research during the last years, effective control of helminth infections is still far from optimal standards and the resulting diseases remain neglected. This book aims to give an up-date overview to the epidemiology (including molecular typing), specific biological, immunological and immunopathological aspects, diagnosis and perspectives of control of the most common helminth infections.

In this volume, the authors provide an excellent overview of how far the plant viral vector field has come. The discipline is no longer exclusively in the domain of academics-there is a small, but growing number of small biotechnology companies that exploit plant viruses as the platform for commercial innovation in crop improvement, industrial product manufacturing, and human and veterinary health care.

In a time of rapid climatic, industrial and technological changes in molluscan shellfish producing and exporting regions, it is of the utmost importance to keep a keen eye on developing trends. This collection of recent research in molluscan shellfish safety, risk assessment, risk management, regulation and analytical methods presented at the 8th ICMSS (International Conference on Molluscan Shellfish Safety) offers valuable insights in the latest scientific findings. Dans le contexte actuel de changements climatiques, industriels et technologiques rapides dans les regions qui produisent et qui exportent des mollusques, il est essentiel de rester a l'affut des nouvelles tendances. Ce recueil des recents travaux de recherche dans les domaines de la salubrite des mollusques, des evaluations des risques, de la gestion des risques, de la reglementation et des methodes d'analyse presentes lors de la 8e Conference internationale sur la salubrite des coquillages (ICMSS) vous aidera a le faire.

The surface of materials is routinely exposed to various environmental influences. Surface modification presents a technological challenge for material scientists, physicists, and engineers, particularly when those surfaces are subjected to function within human body environment. This book provides a comprehensive coverage of the major issues and topics dealing with interaction of soft living matter with the surface of implants. Fundamental scientific concepts are embedded through experimental data and a broad range of case studies. First chapters cover the basics on biocompatibility of many different thin films of metals, alloys, ceramics, hydrogels, and polymers, following with case studies dealing with orthopedic and dental coatings. Next, a novel and low-cost coating deposition technique capable of production of several types of nanostructures is introduced through simple calculations and several illustrations. Moreover, chapter 6 and 7 present important topics on surface treatment of polymers, which is a subject that has seen many developments over the past decade. The last chapters target mainly the applications of coatings in biology such as in bio-sensing, neuroscience, and cancer detection. With several illustrations, micrographs, and case studies along with suitable references in each chapter, this book will be essential for graduate students and researchers in the multidisciplinary field of bio-coatings.

Integration in Bioanalysis: Technologies for Point-of-Care Testing, by Frank F. Bier, Soeren Schumacher Future of Medicine: Models in Predictive Diagnostics and Personalized Medicine, by Babette Regierer, Valeria Zazzu, Ralf Sudbrak, Alexander Kuhn and Hans Lehrach A Highly Versatile Microscope Imaging Technology Platform for the Multiplex Real-Time Detection of Biomolecules and Autoimmune Antibodies, by Stefan Roediger, Peter Schierack, Alexander Boehm, Joerg Nitschke, Ingo Berger, Ulrike Froemmel, Carsten Schmidt, Mirko Ruhland, Ingolf Schimke, Dirk Roggenbuck, Werner Lehmann, Christian Schroeder Platform Technologies for Molecular Diagnostics near the Patient's Bedside, by Soeren Schumacher, Christine Ludecke, Eva Ehrentreich-Foerster, Frank F. Bier Microfluidic Technology for Molecular Diagnostics, by Tom Robinson, Petra S. Dittrich Biosensors for Diagnostic Applications, by Friederike J. Gruhl, Bastian E. Rapp, Kerstin Lange Planar Protein Arrays in Microtiter Plates: Development of a New Format Towards Accurate, Automation-Friendly and Affordable (A3) Diagnostics, by Holger Eickhoff, Arif Malik

The goal of this book is to provide essential information on the use of different medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites for the treatment of various fungal diseases affecting human beings, animals and plants. It is divided in four parts: Part I examines the global distribution of plant-derived antifungal compounds, Part II deals with antifungal activities of plant metabolites, Part III includes plants used in Ayurveda and traditional systems for treating fungal diseases, and Part IV discusses the use of plant-derived products to protect plants against fungal diseases.

In the relatively few decades since the introduction of HIV into the human population, variants of the virus have diverged to such an extent that, were the discussion about something other than viruses, said variants could easily be classified as different species. This book will consider these evolutionary variations, as well as the different and, at times, opposing theories attempting to explain them. It will compare and contrast the ways in which the immune system and drugs affect the virus's evolution, and the implications of these for vaccine development. The issue will be explored and explained through "ecological genetics," which postulates that all living organisms have, besides rivals, enemies. This is divergent from the more traditional school of "population genetics," which emphasizes that evolution occurs among rival species (or variants thereof) that compete for niches or resources in a fixed, unreactive environment. Both models will be formulated using mathematical models, which will be included in the book. Finally, it will consider the possibilities for designing a vaccine that blocks HIV from escaping the immune system.

This comprehensive, interdisciplinary book covers different aspects of relevant human pathogens and commensals. The ongoing development of (meta-)genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and bioinformatic analyses of pathogenic and commensal microorganisms and their host interaction provides a comprehensive introduction to the microbiological analysis of host-microbe interplay and its consequences for infection or commensalism.

From the first detailed clinical description of the disease in the Midwestern United States in 1918, to the isolation of the causative agent, the first of any influenza virus, in 1930 to its role in the genesis of the 2009 human pandemic, swine have played a central role in the ecology of influenza. Although not considered the major natural reservoir for influenza A viruses, swine are host to a limited but dynamic assortment of viruses. A number of subtypes of influenza A viruses of human and avian origin, including H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H7, and H9, have been isolated from global swine populations. Most of these isolations have, however, been limited in number and it is only H1 and H3 influenza viruses that are known to have formed stable lineages in swine. In this respect, swine influenza viruses (SIV) are similar to their counterparts in humans where H1 and H3 viruses have also been maintained. The nature of these H1 and H3 viruses differ between the two host populations, however, and, as discussed throughout this book, are even different in swine populations in different geographic regions of the world due to multiple introductions of avian and human influenza viruses.

First, systems biology is an inter-disciplinary approach, requiring the combined talents of biologists, mathematicians, and computer scientists. Second, systems biology is holistic, with the goal of obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the workings of biological systems. This is achieved through the acquisition of massive amounts of data by high-throughput technologies-oligonucleotide microarrays, mass spectrometry, and next-generation sequencing-and the analysis of this data through sophisticated mathematical algorithms. It is perhaps the use of mathematics, to integrate abundant and diverse types of data and to generate models of interconnected molecular networks, that best characterizes systems biology.

Streptococci are Gram-positive bacteria that cause a wide spectrum of diseases, such as pharyngitis, necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, as well as rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease as sequelae. Antibiotics alone have not been able to control the disease and in spite of many efforts an effective vaccine is not yet available. A prerequisite for novel and successful strategies for combating these bacteria is a complete understanding of the highly complex pathogenic mechanisms involved, which are analyzed in this volume. In ten chapters, prominent authors cover various aspects including streptococcal diseases and global burden, epidemiology, adaptation and transmission, and molecular mechanisms of different diseases, as well as sequelae, vaccine development and clinical management. This book will serve as a valuable reference work for scientists, students, clinicians and public health workers and provide new approaches to meeting the challenge of streptococcal diseases.

Viruses are the ultimate parasites: they infect cells and hijack their molecular machinery in order to survive, often destroying the host cell in the process. In so doing, they present a major challenge to human health and well-being, with the continual emergence of new viral strains placing huge demands on healthcare systems internationally. Human Virology is the perfect introduction to the subject for anyone who needs to understand how viruses impact on human health, and how they can be managed in a clinical context. It does not seek to turn its readers into virologists, but to provide them with enough knowledge of the nature of viruses and viral infections to serve as an essential foundation for anyone encountering viruses in a clinical or biomedical context. Capturing this complex and rapidly-evolving subject with remarkable clarity, Human Virology describes the general principles of viral biology - the properties of viruses, their replication and genetics - along with disease and resistance, before introducing the infections caused by key groups of viruses. It concludes with an overview of the management of viral disease, including diagnosis and immunization. Reflecting our latest understanding of the molecular basis of viral diseases, Human Virology is the ideal resource for all students of medicine, dentistry, and the biological and biomedical sciences, who need a clear and focused introduction to the subject. The Online Resource Centre to accompany Human Virology features: For lecturers: Figures from the book in electronic format For students: Hyperlinked bibliography that takes you directly to the articles mentioned in the textbook Oxford NewsNow - The latest news relevant to human virology Useful weblinks to help you research and revise

This book explores the many mechanisms by which the most prevalent Spirochetal pathogens persist in a healthy immune-competent host. Among them are the direct and indirect suppression of host immune signals, phase and antigenic variation, escaping recognition by host complement proteins, and seclusion into immune privileged sites. We also explore antibiotic therapy for control of infection, a baffling topic that lends itself to exalted interpretation.

Development of new-generation vaccines is now more challenging than ever, as identifying, purifying and evaluating vaccine antigens is a complex undertaking. Most importantly, once the relevant antigens have been identified, key focus then shifts to the development of suitable delivery systems and formulations to achieve maximum in vivo potency with minimum potential side effects. These novel formulations-many of which will be nanoparticulates-can deliver the antigens to the desired site, to the relevant antigen presenting cells, and prevent systemic exposure of the immune potentiators. The proposed book will outline all the critical steps that need to be considered for successful development of various types of nanoparticulate delivery systems for vaccine antigens. These contributions from leading experts in the area of vaccine formulation and delivery systems will tie in what is the most current status, including clinical evaluations with these novel vaccine technologies.

The stages of Blastocystis have been known for 101 years. However, many facts are still disputed, e.g. even the question whether it is a true pathogen or a commensal present in sometimes life-threatening diarrheas. The present book evaluates in chapters contributed by renowned researchers the latest findings on: *Landmarks in the discovery of Blastocystis *Epidemiology, transmission and zoonotic potential *Morphology of human and animal Blastocystis isolates *Clinical aspects of Blastocystis infections *Behavioral decision analysis: what makes us sick? *Blastocystis-host interactions *Molecular approaches on the systematical position *Genetic polymorphism *Blastocystis from a statistical point of view *Diarrheas due to different agents of disease *Zoonotic diseases in comparison As such, this book provides a broad range of information for people working in this field, for physicians and veterinarians who are confronted with clinical cases, teachers, students and technical staff members in the fields of microbiology, parasitology and diagnostic methods.

During the recent transition between acute diseases caused by swarms of single planktonic bacteria, and chronic infections caused by bacteria growing in slime-enclosed biofilms, a general clinical consensus has emerged that pathologies with bacterial etiologies are frequently culture negative. Because biofilm infections now affect 17 million Americans per year (killing approximately 450,000), the suggestion that these common and lethal infections regularly go unnoticed by the only FDA-approved method for their detection and characterization is a matter of urgent concern. Biologically, we would expect that planktonic bacterial cells would colonize any new surface, including the surface of an agar plate, while the specialized sessile cells of a biofilm community would have no such proclivity. In the study of biofilm diseases ranging from otitis media to prostatitis, it was found that direct microscopy and DNA- and RNA-based molecular methods regularly document the presence of living bacteria in tissues and samples that are culture negative. The editors selected orthopedic biofilm infections as the subject of this book because these infections occur against a background of microbiological sterility in which modern molecular methods would be expected to find bacterial DNA, RNA-based microscopic methods would be expected to locate bacterial cells, and cultures would be negative. Moreover, in Orthopedics we find an already biofilm-adapted surgical group in which current strategies are based on the meticulous removal of compromised tissues, antibiotic options as based on high biofilm-killing local doses, and there are practical bedside strategies for dealing with biofilm infections. So here is where the new paradigm of biofilm infection meets the equally new paradigm of the culture negativity of biofilms, and this volume presents a conceptual synthesis that may soon combine the most effective molecular methods for the detection and identification of bacteria with a surgical discipline that is ready to help patients.

"HPV and Cancer" is a concise read that covers all aspects of the Human Papilloma Virus as it relates to human cancers. While written by professionals, it design to be understandable by those that are not in the field, yet it has the technical details that professionals want to stay abreast of this changing field. The book starts out the history of HPV and progresses into the molecular biology of the virus and our current understand of the structure and functions of the proteins and genes it encodes. We then look at the dynamic trends of this infectious agent in the human population, how it interacts with human cells, and the role it plays with other organisms to produce both benign and malignant tumors. Lastly, there is a discussion about a new vaccine for HPV and the hopes that are held by many to change the trends with this virus and the associated cancers it produces.

Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms that are closely related to humans at cellular level. Human fungal pathogens belong to various classes of fungi, mainly zygo- cetes, ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, and deuteromycetes. In recent years, fungal infections have dramatically increased as a result of improved diagnosis, high frequency of catheterization, instrumentation, etc. However, the main cause remains the increasing number of immunosuppressed patients, mostly because of HIV infection and indiscriminate usage of antineoplastic and immunosuppressive agents, broad-spectrum antibiotics and prosthetic devices, and grafts in clinical settings. Presently available means of combating fungal infections are still weak and clumsy compared to control of bacterial infection. The present scenario of antifungal therapy is still based on two classes of antifungal drugs (polyenes and azoles). These drugs are effective in many cases, but display toxicity and limited spectrum of ef?cacy. The recent trend towards emergence of drug-resistant isolates in the clinic is an additional problem. In recent years, a few new antifungal drugs have entered the clinics, but they are expected to undergo same fate as the older antifungal drugs. The application of fungal genomics offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop novel antifungal drugs. However, it is too early to expect any novel drugs, as the antifungal drug discovery program is in the stage of infancy. Interestingly, several novel antifungal drug targets have been identi?ed and validated.

It has been known for many years that the Malassezia yeasts are associated with a n- ber of different human diseases ranging from pityriasis versicolor to seborrhoeic d- matitis. However the evolving history of their taxonomy and pathogenicity, and the management of the diseases that they cause has been a long, and often diffcult, jou- ney. Their fastidious growth requirements defed the initial attempts to culture these organisms on laboratory media and their true identifcation and the relationship between different species only became apparent with the application of modern molecular techniques. Likewise although recognised in the 19th century as potential causes of human infection, piecing together the complex and, in certain cases, still uncertain relationships to different human diseases has taken many years. Recognised initially as causes of infection of the skin, they are now known to be superfcial c- mensals as well as potential causes of infections in domestic animals and more serious human conditions such as fungemia. They have also been implicated in the pathog- esis of allergic and other infammatory diseases. Given this complex, yet fascinating, history it seems appropriate to bring together current thought on these yeasts, their structure and function and their association with both human and animal disease states. This book provides such a view of the genus Malassezia and the diseases caused by its members.

I entered the gene therapy field in the mid-1990s, being fascinated by the immense potential of genes as drugs for the treatment of human disease. Since then, I have experienced the ups and downs of this discipline, and tried to contribute with my work and that of my laboratory to the development of innovative approaches to the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. During these years, I have had several opp- tunities to speak on gene therapy at lectures and academic lessons, and have often noticed that the field is very attractive to scientists of all disciplines. However, as yet no comprehensive book on the subject has been published. Indeed, most books in the field are either a collection of gene transfer laboratory protocols or deal with the subject in a rather superficial manner. Hence the idea to write a gene therapy textbook that is broad and comprehensive, but at the same time provides sufficient molecular and clinical detail to be of interest to students, professors, and specialists in the various disciplines that contribute to gene therapy. I have tried to keep the language plain and, whenever possible, non-technical. Since the book is intended to be a textbook in the field of gene therapy in both the basic science and clinical areas, whenever technical descriptions are required, they are provided.

Chemokine Receptors and NeuroAIDS: Beyond the Co-receptor Function and Links to Other Neuropathologies focuses on unresolved or emerging issues concerning the role of chemokine receptors in neuronal injury and HIV neuropathology, including their ability to regulate fundamental neuronal and glial functions and their role in neurovirulence and neurotoxicity. Although the importance of these molecules in the CNS physiology and pathology is now apparent, these issues are still matter of debate, and further research is required to design effective pharmacological agents that specifically target the brain chemokine system without major side effects. To this end, specific topics have been selected and are reviewed by international experts within the basic science/medical community. This book encourages investigation in the most controversial areas and fosters interaction between clinicians and basic scientists. The book also increases awareness about differences in disease progression among different parts of the world as well as selected patient populations, which may also help identifying novel therapeutic strategies.

This is the most comprehensive, up-to-date reference on this post-translational modification of proteins, which is intimately linked with DNA repair, maintenance of genomic stability, transcriptional regulation, cell death and a variety of other cellular phenomena as well as with a variety of pathophysiological conditions, including ischemia-reperfusion damage, Parkinson's disease, Type I diabetes mellitus, hemorrhagic and septic shock and other inflammatory conditions. Richly illustrated, it offers 19 chapters written by international experts.

Molecular epidemiology has recently broaden its focuses due to the development of molecular tools but also by incorporating advances of other fields such as mathematical epidemiology, molecular ecology, population genetics and evolution. Facing new risks of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that are threats for humans and their livestock, the objectives of molecular epidemiology include: - the development of molecular tools, genotyping and gene expression - the incorporation of concepts and results of population genetics of infectious diseases - the integration of recent advances in theoretical epidemiology and evolutionary ecology of diseases - a better understanding of transmission for the development of risk factors analyses. This book will demonstrate how the latest developments in molecular tools and in epidemiology can be integrated with studies of host-pathogen interactions. Besides a strong theoretical component, there will also be an emphasis on applications in the fields of epidemiology, public health, veterinary medicine, and health ecology. Students and researchers in the fields of epidemiology, animal and human health, evolutionary ecology, parasitology are the main potential readers of the book, as well as a broader audience from veterinary medicine and conservation.